Carly Smithson, lead singer of We Are the Fallen, was born on September 12, 1983. She's is an Irish-American singer and musician, and was the 6th place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. Originally from Dublin Ireland, she moved to San Diego California 10 years ago.

There, she got married and runs a tattoo parlor with her husband, and also does some waitressing on the side. Carly Smithson auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas during the show's fifth season; she made it to Hollywood but was disqualified because her visa had expired.

Smithson successfully auditioned again for Season 7 of American Idol and made the top 24. Shortly thereafter, articles appeared in the mainstream press pointing out connections that had been reported in various blogs for the previous month.

Smithson acknowledged her previous record deal on the February 20, 2008 episode of American Idol, and stated that the record label 'imploded'.You can find her album from her previous record deal under her maiden name Carly Hennessy.

Though debut solo album, Ultimate High (2001), MCA Records label apparently only sold 300 copies in the first few months back in 2001, it had an increased popularity in sales around the time of her American Idol Performance.

In total, Smithson was in the Bottom 2 or 3 three times, on March 19 for her performance of The Beatles' "Blackbird"; on April 10 for her performance of Queen's "The Show Must Go On", after performing Superstar from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar on April 23, 2008.

The day before she was eliminated Simon Cowell stated, "I thought that was the best performance of the night so far." After Ryan Seacrest announced the elimination Cowell said:“ I apologize for giving you a compliment last night—kiss of death, but let me tell you, Carly, you can leave with your head held high.

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